The Divine Institution Of Magistracy And Civil Government In The Principles of the Scottish Martyrs
The divine institution of magistracy and the scripture precepts in the erection of civil government and in the appointment of governors were held by the martyrs. They also held that persons invested with authority should be fearers of God and professors of the true religion, as well as persons of ability and moral character.
Although they had a fierce commitment to the liberty of the church, the Covenanters also held that an obligation lay upon a nation, by their rulers, to favour and support religion. In their view this was due, in the first place, to the Prince of the Kings of the earth, whom all nations are to serve. Secondly, they saw it as forming the only sure basis of virtue, union, peace, and prosperity at the national level.
They did not believe that the State should be in subjection to the church. And they would not submit to an Erastian supremacy, placing the church in subjection to the State.
They drew the distinction between civil and ecclesiastical authority, with judicious exactness; and, without confounding these two things, required their co-operation, each in its own sphere, as co-ordinate powers under one Supreme Divine authority.
They did not confuse the legitimate exercise of civil authority with the base prostitution of it to State or personal purposes, in giving facilities and protection to true religion.
Be it right or wrong, such is the fact, that the reformers did not exclude religion from national concern. They found things civil and religious recognized in the same divine law, connected in the complex nature and relations of man, related also in the necessary connections of things, and joined in the corruptions against which they protested.
However, nothing was more remote from their minds than the idea of propagating religion by force. They disavowed and abhorred the propagation of religion by other than the weapons of Scripture, argument, prayer, and example, even though they were in their perilous circumstances to assume the attitude of defense.
In language as strong as could be employed by those who accuse them of sanguinary principles, they declared, "We positively disavow, as horrid murder, the killing of any, because of a different persuasion and opinion from us, albeit some have invidiously cast this odious calumny upon us." (This article has been adapted from "Religious Principles of the Scottish Martyrs" by Andrew Symington.)
Although they had a fierce commitment to the liberty of the church, the Covenanters also held that an obligation lay upon a nation, by their rulers, to favour and support religion. In their view this was due, in the first place, to the Prince of the Kings of the earth, whom all nations are to serve. Secondly, they saw it as forming the only sure basis of virtue, union, peace, and prosperity at the national level.
They did not believe that the State should be in subjection to the church. And they would not submit to an Erastian supremacy, placing the church in subjection to the State.
They drew the distinction between civil and ecclesiastical authority, with judicious exactness; and, without confounding these two things, required their co-operation, each in its own sphere, as co-ordinate powers under one Supreme Divine authority.
They did not confuse the legitimate exercise of civil authority with the base prostitution of it to State or personal purposes, in giving facilities and protection to true religion.
Be it right or wrong, such is the fact, that the reformers did not exclude religion from national concern. They found things civil and religious recognized in the same divine law, connected in the complex nature and relations of man, related also in the necessary connections of things, and joined in the corruptions against which they protested.
However, nothing was more remote from their minds than the idea of propagating religion by force. They disavowed and abhorred the propagation of religion by other than the weapons of Scripture, argument, prayer, and example, even though they were in their perilous circumstances to assume the attitude of defense.
In language as strong as could be employed by those who accuse them of sanguinary principles, they declared, "We positively disavow, as horrid murder, the killing of any, because of a different persuasion and opinion from us, albeit some have invidiously cast this odious calumny upon us." (This article has been adapted from "Religious Principles of the Scottish Martyrs" by Andrew Symington.)
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For more information about the Biblical view of civil government and/or the Covenanters, please visit PuritanDownloads.com. There are many faithful Reformed theology resources at that site.